What’s in a name, what’s in a call number? A rose by any other name would…
Okay, it is time for true confessions. I am not a trained librarian, I do not have a degree in library science, I haven’t taken a single course in library science. I’m simply a retired teacher who has taught literature for decades, and who is loving being a librarian in Andover and trying to do my best by the library.
Ordering books for the library is a fun challenge. I try to order books that people will want to read, and I also try to order books that will stretch them a little bit, get them outside their so-called “comfort zones.” I listen to people talk about what they like to read, I read reviews, I look at best seller lists, and I take the plunge and order books. It is always a little bit like Christmas when they arrive; I have a pretty good idea what will be in the box, but it is still exciting to unpack the box.
The next task is to catalog the books, which means assigning them a code or call number to help determine where the book will be shelved in the library. Often there is a call number printed in the book, or I can find a call number in the State Library database, or in another library’s database. Usually it is pretty clear-cut: fiction is fiction, non-fiction is non-fiction, and a children’s book is a children’s book. 

But, often there are puzzles. Why is poetry shelved in the non-fiction section of a library? Where is the line between a picture book and an easy reader, or between an easy reader and juvenile fiction? What distinguishes a young adult book from adult fiction?
Recently, the library received a book that defies classification. It is The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. Its call number places it solidly in the middle of the non-fiction section of books on art. This makes some sense, as Charlie Mackesy, the author, is a renowned cartoonist and illustrator. 

However, this book has been on the best-seller list for adult fiction in the Concord Monitor for several weeks now, yet at first glance it appears to be a children’s book.
This article is really a plug for reading this book. It is absolutely wonderful; it is silly, thoughtful, philosophical, whimsical, and profound. It is filled with wisdom and humor; it might make you laugh or cry. It offers hope and inspiration. It teaches the power of kindness. 

All readers, from a young child to older person filled with the wisdom that comes from years of experience, can enjoy it and learn from it. It is beautiful and has a calligraphic style. The author-artist draws you into the creative process. You could spend 15 minutes reading it, or savor it one page at a time over months. It is a quick and very satisfying read. It is a comforting read: Enjoy it!